S.C. improves, beats Georgia in storm-resistant building codes

COLUMBIA — South Carolina is among nine coastal states that improved its residential building codes against hurricane damage.

That’s according to the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety, which issued a report, Rating the States Midterm Update, assessing states on whether they improved codes, weakened them, or did not change them.

“As we approach the anniversaries of Hurricanes Andrew and Katrina, two of the most deadly and destructive hurricanes to make landfall in the U.S., we are reminded of the importance of strong, uniform state building codes and the role they play in protecting lives and homes,” said Julie Rochman, IBHS president and CEO, in a news release.

“This update provides each state a useful analysis of their latest building code activities and what steps they can take to better protect their communities. It also gives interested citizens useful information so that they can understand the need for, and demand, better building codes.”

IBHS is a nonprofit funded by the property insurance industry. The report, released Thursday, focused on 18 coastal states.